Light system for RC vehicles not requiring an extra battery

ABSTRACT

A light system for RC Vehicles using one or more light assemblies with a low-power consumption, high intensity LED. The light system is powered by the battery used to power the steering and other functions of the RC Vehicle and may be connected to various sockets of the RC receiver used in the RC Vehicle. Arrangements using the light system are shown headlights, taillights, brakelights and steerable search lights.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/340,684, filed Dec. 12, 2001, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a light system for RC Vehicles, and inparticular, to such a light system which does not require use of anextra battery.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] It is very important for all radio control miniature vehicles (RCVehicles) and especially for those vehicles to be used in competition,to maintain its weight as low as possible. Low weight enables RCVehicles to perform in a competition by increasing the acceleration,reducing the braking time, as well as extending a run time. Low weightalso contributes to preserve the usage of the lifting power of all RCFlying Sources such as Helicopters and Airplanes and in turn to extendthe flying time. It is unlikely for RC manufactures as well as for theRC aftermarket industry to develop and try to market an RC Vehicle LightSystem comprising additional batteries. As of today, batteries are stillthe heaviest portions of any electronic equipment. Good batteries arealso expensive.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide light systemfor RC Vehicles.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide lights systemnot requiring any additional battery.

[0008] It is another object to provide a light system of minimal weightso that it can be installed on all RC Vehicles and especially onvehicles participating in a competition without substantially increasingthe weight of said vehicles.

[0009] It is another object to provide a fully operational, yet veryefficient light system for RC Vehicles that only requires an extremelysmall electric current.

[0010] It is further an object to power said RC Light System directlyfrom an RC Receiver using any socket: marked “B” socket whether isalready busy or not as well as any RC channel socket, even if saidchannel socket is currently engaged to control a servo or any other RCdevices.

[0011] It is further an object to provide better control over RCVehicles by utilizing said light system in other to see clearly thedirection of said RC Vehicle as well as stopping/braking maneuvers ofthe next RC Vehicle especially in RC Vehicle competition.

[0012] It is further another object to provide a Micro-Servo activatedDimmer-Switch to convert RC Vehicles Taillights into RC Tail/Stoplights.

[0013] It is further another object to reveal a way to control aMicro-Servo activated Dimmer Switch, ESC (Electronic Speed Control), aswell as power the RC Vehicle Light System from the same socket which iscorresponding to a single RC Channel.

[0014] It is furthermore another object to provide an RC VehicleSearchlight.

[0015] It is furthermore another object to show a way for saidsearchlight to illuminate always in the traveling direction of said RCVehicle (motorcycle headlight effect).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a light assemblyembodying the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a light system using two of thelight assemblies shown in FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the light system of FIG. 2 mountedto an RC vehicle chassis bracket.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the light system of FIG. 2 shownconnected to an RC receiver.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a pair of the light systems ofFIG. 2 using a standard RC “Y” harness to connect the RC receiver, withone of the light systems serving as headlights and the other lightsystem serving as taillights for an RC vehicle.

[0021]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an alternative light system usingtwo light assemblies embodying the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the light system of FIG. 7 shownconnected to an RC receiver and an electronic speed control (ESC).

[0023]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of another alternative light systemusing four light assemblies embodying the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the light system of FIG. 8 shownconnected to an RC receiver and serving as a searchlight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightsystem for all RC Vehicles, that will not require any additionalbatteries, therefore will not substantially increase the weight of suchvehicles. This is achieved, by having a low current, high output lightsystem (comprising high intensity LED's as a light producing devices),plugged directly into the RC Receiver. Such a Light System is fullyfunctional and as further described is very useful. Each socket on theRC Receiver has 3 pins. Pin 1 is the control pin, it is irrelevant andwill be omitted in our description. Pin 2 is a positive pin consistingof anywhere between 4.8 to 6V DC and is corresponding with red wire. Pin3 is a negative pin of 0V DC and is corresponding with a black wire on astandard RC Servo Wire or RC Wire Harness. The low current Light System,as one comprising High Intensity LED as a light source, is pluggeddirectly in to any socket on the RC Receiver. Even if such socket isalready busy, because it's corresponding channel is controlling a Servoor any other RC Device, the “Y” Harness should be plugged to that socketin order to share the power from pin 2 and pin 3 of that socket, betweenthe Light System and said early RC Device. Latest, electrically poweredRC Vehicles are using ESC (Electronic Speed Control) to monitor thecurrent flow between the main battery and the drive motor. In these, thepower from said main drive battery is also transferred through the ESCto power the RC Receiver and further, to power all RC Devices as servosetc., using pin 2 and pin 3 in a socket corresponding with each channelcontrolling said devices. As a result, all said latest vehicles with ESChave RC Receiver with socket market “B” (battery) empty but yet beingalive with DC Power on pin 2 and pin 3. It is the object of thisinvention to utilize pin 2 and pin 3 of this socket as well as pin 2 andpin 3 off any channel socket to power the low current high output RCLight System.

[0026] Having a fully functional low current high output RC Light Systemwill enable:

[0027] 1. An RC Vehicle driver to know from a distance, in whichdirection his as well as the competing RC Vehicles are moving by seeingWhite, or especially in bright day driving recommended, more accessibleto human eye, Blue Headlights or in case of moving in contrary directionthe Red Taillights.

[0028] 2. In situation when a competing RC Vehicle is ahead of said RCVehicle and is braking, the driver of said RC Vehicle will be warned bymeans of functional Brakelights on the competing car.

[0029] 3. Flying an RC Helicopter is often very confusing especially forinexperienced pilots. Usually in a situation when the Helicopter isflying in a direction towards a Pilot, said Pilot is misusing hiscontrols, steering the Helicopter to the right rather then to the leftand vice versa. Being able to see at least one Headlight (recommendedblue-better visible in a daylight), rather then a red (installed on thetail), said pilot will be reminded of the direction his Helicopter isflying and to use his controls in a manner of a “mirror reflection”. Asimilar principle applies to an RC Airplane as well as to an RC Boat.

[0030]FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a Light Assembly 21. HighIntensity T-1¾ inch (5 mm) LED 1 is pushed into a plastic ring 2(preferably made of vacuum chromed plated nylon) of an outside diameterapproximately 9 mm, with approximately a 4.8 mm in diameter hole 3. Thering 2 has a collar/stopper 4 toward the LED's lens end. LED 1 is thensecured to the plastic ring 2 with a drop of Super Glue or othersuitable adhesive. The LED's positive pin 7 is trimmed approximatelyhalf way, and in case of a White, Blue, Green LED, 100 Ohms, ¼ Wattresistor 8 has one end soldered to the end of the pin. In case of Amberor Red LED, the resistor 8 is to be 200 Ohms, ¼ Watt. A two conductorNo. 24-gage wire 9, has a first conductor-red, positive 10 soldered tothe other end of resistor 8, and a second conductor-black 11 soldered tothe LED's negative pin 6. The resistor 8 and both soldering points arecovered with a {fraction (3/16)}-{fraction (3/32)} inch shrinking tube12.

[0031] The plastic ring 2 is then pushed into an opened end of analuminum housing 13 that is 9 mm in diameter and 52 mm in long. Thecollar/stopper and the hole 3 of the ring 2, with the LED 1 lens sidefacing to the outside of the housing 13, is expose on the outside of thehousing 13. The two conductors wire 9 comes out of the aluminum housing13 through a side hole of 3.5 mm in diameter near the closed end of thealuminum housing where the wire 9 exits through the side hole the wireis covered again with {fraction (3/16)}-{fraction (3/32)} inch shrinkingtube 14. The shrinking tube 14 provides additional protection againstthe metal hole cutting the wire as well as acting as a strain relief andproviding an aesthetic appearance.

[0032] In a center of the closed end of the housing 13 is a hole 3.5 mmin diameter with machine screw 15 of No. 6×32×½ inch size (projectingthere through. A head portion of the screw 15 is inside of the housing13 and the threaded shaft of the screw extends outside of the housing.The screw 15 has two nuts 16 and 17 on the threaded shaft portion. Firstnut 16 is fastening the screw 15 to the housing 13 utilizing alock-washer 18 therebetween. Second nut 17, together with a flat-washer19 and another lock-washer 20, are provided for the purpose of fasteningthe headlight assembly 21 to an RC Vehicle chassis or RC Vehicle chassisbracket.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows a preferred light system of the present inventionusing a set of two high intensity Light Assemblies 21 with theconstruction shown in FIG. 1. The two Light Assemblies 21 are each wiredby the two conductor wire 9, of 24 gauge, 3.5 inches in length to an ONOFF slide switch 22 and then to a standard servo wire 23 with a Futabatype female connector 24 on the end of the servo wire.

[0034]FIG. 3 shows the light system of FIG. 2 using two of highintensity Light Assemblies 21 attached to a preferred embodiment of anRC Vehicle Chassis Bracket 25.

[0035]FIG. 4 shows an electrical schematic of the light system of FIG. 2plugged into the “B” marked socket of an RC Receiver 50. The two LightAssemblies 21 of the light system may serve as RC Vehicles Headlights orTaillights.

[0036]FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a pair of light systems as shown inFIG. 2 using a standard RC “Y” Harness 53 to both plug into the “B”marked socket of the RC Receiver 50. The one light system using twoLight Assemblies 21 serves as the RC Vehicle headlights and the otherlight system using two Light Assemblies 21 serves as the RC Vehicletaillights.

[0037]FIGS. 6 and 7 show a more advanced light system for electricallypowered vehicles. The light system uses two Light Assemblies 21 servingas taillights, but as will be described, further also functioning asbrakelights. As seen in FIG. 7, the light system is connected to anElectronic Speed Control (ESC) 51 of conventional design. The ESC 51 isplugged into a Harness Link 52 on an RC Vehicles Headlight or TaillightsSystem, in parallel with a micro-servo 54, which in turn is plugged intoChannel 2 of the RC Receiver 50. When ESC 51 receives a signal fromChannel 2 of the RC Receiver 50 to stop a driving motor 55, themicro-servo 54 also receives a signal to turns a servo-wheel 56 in sucha position, so that a roller 57 of a micro-switch 58 will fall into anotch 59 on the servo-wheel 56. This action closes the NC (normallyclosed) terminals on the micro-switch 58 and thereby bypasses the 470ohms resistor 60. Now, more current flows via resistor 8 and LED 1 ofeach Light Assembly 21, brightening the red light, converting theTaillight into a Brakelight.

[0038]FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the present invention,using for purposes of illustration, four Light Assemblies 21 to serve asa searchlight. The four Light Assemblies 21 are attached to a bracket40, which is mounted onto a servo wheel 41 on the tog of a micro-servo42. The Light Assemblies 21 are powered directly from the red and blackwires of micro-servo 42. The micro-servo 42 (usually an airplane typemicro-servo) is controlled by a separate channel as a searchlight only,or as shown on the electrical schematic of FIG. 9, shares a channel witha mainsteering servo 43. In this case, the micro-servo 42 will directthe Lamp Assemblies 21 in the same direction as the main steering servo43 is directing a pair of front wheels 70 of the RC Vehicle, oralternatively, the rudder of an RC Boat or other steering component ofan RC Vehicle.

[0039] The above described high intensity Light System can be installedon any RC Vehicles such as cars, trucks, tanks, boats, airplanes andhelicopters. It is to be powered directly from the RC Receiver 50. It iscompatible working from a “B” marked socket as well as from any othersocket on the RC Receiver. There is no need too worry about the powerconsumption. Whether the RC Receiver is getting its own power from themain-drive battery via the ESC (Electronic Speed Control), as on all newmodels of electric powered vehicles, or whether it is powered from anauxiliary battery, as all Nitro powered or old fashioned electricpowered vehicles. The current that will be drawn by the light system ofthe present invention from the RC Receiver is only a fraction of thecurrent that is drawn from the same RC Receiver by a servo. RC Vehicles,as miniatures of real vehicles, are in need of being equipped withlights of different colors, as marker lights on airplanes wings (Red &Green), marker lights on trucks (Amber), Tail/Brakelights on cars andtrucks (Red), Headlights, Searchlights (White or even Blue). Today'shigh intensity LED is very efficient in light producing technology, andalso provides a coherent light of a variety of different colors. Thereis no need to filter out the color of the light which causes the lightgeneration to be even more efficient in comparison with any other lightsource, as for example incandescent, or halogen, krypton light bulbs,which produce white light and require filtering to generate anothercolor.

[0040] The light system of the present invention for RC Vehicles doesnot require an additional battery, but rather operating directly fromthe RC Receiver.

[0041] The light system uses pin 2 (positive) and pin 3 (negative) of asocket, of any channel as well as of socket marked “B” of the RCReceiver, to supply electrical power to the light system.

[0042] The light system is very light weight and can be installed on allRC Vehicles, and especially on RC Vehicles participating in acompetition without substantially increasing the weight of the vehicles.

[0043] The light system uses the electrical power from pin 2 and pin 3of the “B” marked socket even if that socket is already busy, and mayuse the socket of any channel to the power light system even if thechannel is currently engaged to control a Servo or any other RC device.

[0044] The electrical components of the fully operational light systemof the present invention for RC Vehicles can be fabricated using onlysolid state devices, preferably LEDs and as a result is very efficientand works on very small electric current.

[0045] The light system are useful to enhance operation of an RCVehicles to minimize the possibility of being confused while using RCsystem controls. More specifically, using the light system, a methodexists to use white, blue, amber or green headlights and red taillightsto indicate the direction in which the RC Vehicle is moving, and/or touse the indication of red brakelights of competing vehicle to avoid acollision.

[0046] The light system allows use of high intensity/low powerconsumption LEDs to serve as a Searchlight controlled by a micro-servo.The micro-servo may be synchronized with the RC Vehicle steering servo,and controlled directly by the steering servo, to provide light in thesame direction that the vehicle moves as the vehicle changes directionas it moves about.

[0047] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. Light System for RC Vehicles not requiring and additionalbattery, rather operating directly from RC Receiver.
 2. The applicationof pin 2 (positive) and pin 3 (negative) of a socket, of any channel aswell as of socket marked “B” of said receiver to supply power to saidlight system.
 3. Light System of very little weight that could beinstall on all RC Vehicles, and especially on RC Vehicles participatingin a competition without substantially increasing the weight of saidvehicles.
 4. Using the power from pin 2 and pin 3 of “B” marked socketeven if said socket is already busy or socket of any channel to powerlight system even if said channel is currently engaged to control aServo or any other RC Device.
 5. Fully operational light system for RCVehicles consisting of solid state devices, more specifically LED's inorder to be very efficient and work on very small electric current. 6.Utilizing said light system to enhance operation of RC Vehicles tominimize the possibility of being confused while using RC Systemcontrol's, more specifically: a. using white, blue, amber or greenheadlights and red taillights to indicate the direction in which saidvehicle is moving b using the indication of red brakelight of competingvehicle to avoid a collision.
 7. High Intensity/low power consumptionLED's Searchlight controlled by micro-servo, synchronized with the RCVehicle steering servo, or control directly by the second, to providelight in to same direction that the said vehicle will move.